What do YOU think a liberal is?

[Fitswimmer]

Liberals are progressives. They want to keep moving the country and its people forward.

Conservatives think about only two things in general: How to legislate people to follow their brand of religion, and how not to contribute money in taxes so it doesn't go to those darn immigrants, blacks, gays, women libbers, welfare cheats, illigitmate children, and old people who are ruining the whole country.

That's just as stereotypical as some of the statements on liberals. I consider myself conservative and I'm pro LEGAL immigration and I want the government OUT of the morality business entirely. No laws about who marries who or what women choose to do about the consequences of their bedroom activities. I want government OUT of a lot of things-especially my wallet.

 

[Liberty Belle]

From the NY Times (which I read every day) and my liberal friends, who believe that government control of education, health care, and more programs for the poor will improve our lives. It doesn't matter that these programs are rife with fraud, waste and abuse and are only marginally effective -keep throwing MORE money at them and they'll get better. Any discussion of tying funding to results is loudly decried. You should hear my teacher friends about No Child Left Behind or any other attempt at measurement! It doesn't matter either that the welfare programs we have do a better job of keeping people stuck than helping them improve their lives. Keep throwing more money at them, don't change a thing.

The funniest thing is that even as these same folks are decrying the failures of government, they're calling for it to have more influence. If the government is screwing everything up so badly, why keep giving it more to do?

Seriously, they think this? They're not the norm, then.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Liberals are progressives. They want to keep moving the country and its people forward.

Conservatives think about only two things in general: How to legislate people to follow their brand of religion, and how not to contribute money in taxes so it doesn't go to those darn immigrants, blacks, gays, women libbers, welfare cheats, illigitmate children, and old people who are ruining the whole country.

More extremism.

 

[dcentity2000]

Oh my word, Mushy, you've just thrown the proverbial match into the fireworks factory!



Rich::

 

[Acklander]

.

I think liberals have views that I agree with like tolerance and acceptance They are more likely to be understanding and compassionate of their fellow human beings.

The views that I don't agree with (and the reason I am a Republican) are because liberals believe that society should be responsible for everyone. Yes, we should help the elderly and children. However, we don't need to help people that are perfectly capable of helping themselves.

It is disgusting to see people on welfare who have child after child. If you choose to have a child, YOU need to be responsible for the day care, insurance and food. It is not the governments responsibility. It appears to me that liberals would like the people that work their butts off each day and go to work to support the people that choose not to. I have a huge problem with that.

I don't believe the rich should pay a higher percentage of taxes just because they choose to work hard and make more money. Everyone has that opportunity. Many just choose to make excuses or make poor decisions. People need to take care of themselves and quit expecting the government to do it. I feel like liberals expect for people to receive things they haven't earned.

If I were ever in danger, I would pray to God that a conservative was nearby because I think a liberal would be much less likely to help.

It sounds like you're Libertarian, not Republican

 

[dejr_8]

Liberals are progressives. They want to keep moving the country and its people forward.

Conservatives think about only two things in general: How to legislate people to follow their brand of religion, and how not to contribute money in taxes so it doesn't go to those darn immigrants, blacks, gays, women libbers, welfare cheats, illigitmate children, and old people who are ruining the whole country.

This is interesting because Liberals use the COURTS to force their views on people: gay marriage, abortion, absence of religion, eliminating the death penalty, etc.

Liberals don't like to use the legislation approach because many of their ideas are unpopular and would never pass.

 

[smartestnumber5]

This is interesting because Liberals use the COURTS to force their views on people: gay marriage, abortion, absence of religion, eliminating the death penalty, etc.

Liberals don't like to use the legislation approach because many of their ideas are unpopular and would never pass.

Wow, you mean liberals have gotten the courts to force people to marry someone of the same sex, to have an abortion, and to become atheists?

Seriously, how can you with a straight face argue that a court cases which gives people the CHOICE to have a same-sex marriage, a CHOICE to have an abortion is forcing it on people, when before the court cases there were no CHOICES in these matters?

 

[Acklander]

I'm mostly liberal, but I don't believe in welfare - either corporate or personal. I'm pro-choice - if you want to end abortion you should make it easier for a woman to have a baby, not make it illegal for a woman to end her pregnancy. I think gays should be allowed to marry. I think victimless crimes (prostitution, drugs, etc...) should not be crimes, there are better ways to spend that money. I'm for gun control. I think everyone is entitled to health care, and it's a disgrace that insurance companies can pick and choose whom they allow to purchase health insurance. I think education should be a priority. I agreed with the war in Afganistan; I never agreed with attacking Iraq, It's not our place to police the rest of the world and those resources should have been used to fight the Taliban and find Bin Laden. I'm for abolishing income tax and instead think there should be a national sales tax.

 

[Planogirl]

Apparently allowing people to make choices is somehow being intolerant. What convoluted logic.

I'm amazed at the amount of stereotyping going on in just this thread. No wonder no one gets along.

 

[dejr_8]

Wow, you mean liberals have gotten the courts to force people to marry someone of the same sex, to have an abortion, and to become atheists?

Seriously, how can you with a straight face argue that a court cases which gives people the CHOICE to have a same-sex marriage, a CHOICE to have an abortion is forcing it on people, when before the court cases there were no CHOICES in these matters?

Because that is using the courts as a legislative body. If these were popular CHOICES (to use your term), then they would easily pass congress and/or state houses to become law. But they don't so liberal activest judges have IMPOSED their views and beliefs upon the people.

What is interesting about liberals is that they only defend their views as being open minded.

 

[jodifla]

This is interesting because Liberals use the COURTS to force their views on people: gay marriage, abortion, absence of religion, eliminating the death penalty, etc.

Liberals don't like to use the legislation approach because many of their ideas are unpopular and would never pass.

Liberals use the law and courts to PROTECT PEOPLE who are being DISCRIMINATED AGAINST by CONSERVATIVES and their LEGISLATION.

 

[jodifla]

Because that is using the courts as a legislative body. If these were popular CHOICES (to use your term), then they would easily pass congress and/or state houses to become law. But they don't so liberal activest judges have IMPOSED their views and beliefs upon the people.

What is interesting about liberals is that they only defend their views as being open minded.

Because, by definition, it IS open minded to be tolerant.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Because, by definition, it IS open minded to be tolerant.

Judging by your posts on this thread, you are a far stretch from being open minded and tolerant. Just hold on tight to those reins my friend, because it's a mighty long way down from that horse you've climbed up on.

 

[Mugg Mann]

This is interesting because Liberals use the COURTS to force their views on people: gay marriage, abortion, absence of religion, eliminating the death penalty, etc.

Liberals don't like to use the legislation approach because many of their ideas are unpopular and would never pass.

No, people (not just liberals or conservatives) use the courts to assure access to Constitutionally guaranteed rights that other people (not just liberals or conservatives) are trying to deny them.

No one has forced you to marry someone of the same sex, have an abortion, stop believing in the religion of your choice and doing whatever you please to honor that religion on PRIVATE property, or not deal in a proper way with people who have proven that they cannot be allowed free to roam in society.

Conversely, you don't have a say in how people live their own lives in private. You are certainly allowed your opinion, and you are certainly allowed to voice your opinion, but you might want to brush up on the "tyranny of the majority" section and all the legal precedences already established under American Constitutional law to find out legally why your rights end there.

I'm glad the courts were used to properly give both Women and African Americans the right to vote in accordance with the Constitution, aren't you? After all, both of those concepts were unpopular with very large segments of the population at that time. Or are you against those as well? If you are, I would appreciate your telling us why.

 

[Cantw8]

Have you ever actually met a liberal? Siblings marrying?

Seriously...***??? Yeah, we liberals want siblings to have sex with each other, we want everyone to have unprotected sex so they can get pregnant and have to have abortions, heck, we want people to have sex with animals it would make for way more interesting stem cell research we are a bunch of idiots who have no clue ...jeezzzzz, come on. Me...as a liberal, want to know what my greatest hope is???? Tolerance..pure and simple, let people be who they chose to be Not everything is as simple as black and white, I wish more than anything that people would just let people be themselves whether or not they agree with the lifestyle.....that to me is a huge part of being a liberal

 

[jodifla]

Judging by your posts on this thread, you are a far stretch from being open minded and tolerant. Just hold on tight to those reins my friend, because it's a mighty long way down from that horse you've climbed up on.

What on earth are you talking about?

 

[SwedishMeatball]

What on earth are you talking about?

You aren't interested in anything I have to say. You already have all the answers. Just ignore me.

 

[dejr_8]

Liberals use the law and courts to PROTECT PEOPLE who are being DISCRIMINATED AGAINST by CONSERVATIVES and their LEGISLATION.

Oh Please. Over the last 50 years, democrats on many occasions have controled the House, the Senate and the White House (the last time being 1993 and 1994). You need to check your history.

 

[dejr_8]

Because, by definition, it IS open minded to be tolerant.

But that's just it. Liberals ARE NOT tolerant of people who don't share their opinions. It is a oneway street.

 

[smartestnumber5]

Because that is using the courts as a legislative body. If these were popular CHOICES (to use your term), then they would easily pass congress and/or state houses to become law. But they don't so liberal activest judges have IMPOSED their views and beliefs upon the people.

What is interesting about liberals is that they only defend their views as being open minded.

Actually this isn't true. In the recent NJ case, for example, the polls showed that the majority of folks in NJ did favor gay marriage. Yet it took a court case to even get civil unions on the table and though the legislature had the option to do what their constituency wanted, they chose to only go with civil unions over marriage.

But in any case ALL government action is forcible--whether its the legislature or the courts enacting laws. All laws retain their authority by threat of force of the government. The legislature IMPOSES its views on people just as much as the courts do. I assumed you were not talking about the FORM of the law, but the CONTENT. And in the terms of the CONTENT of the law in the case of abortion and gay marriage it is clear that the liberal laws offer more freedom than the conservative laws.

In any case the "liberal activist judge: stereotype is really tired. When they've actually tried to study this pheneomenon they found that the judges who were most activist (in the sense of striking down the greatest number of the laws enacted by the legislature) were ones nominated by republicans. On the SCOTUS Justice Thomas is the biggest activist and Breyer and Ginsburg are the least. Kind of shoots your theory huh? (And if that weren't bad enough, there's always that pesky segregation problem. Do you really want to go on about how bad it was of the SCOTUS in Brown v. Board of Edu to go over the head of the legislature and allow *gasp* black people to go to school with white people? I started a thread asking if Brown was decided rightly or wrongly and I believe not one person was willing to say it had been wrongly decided. Ironic. )